Communio

Date

May 20-24, 2019

Description

Offered each May since 2001 by the Institute for Faith and Learning, Communio: A Retreat for Baylor Educators, seeks to meet this important faculty development need at Baylor. The five-day retreat features guest lectures and guided discussions by noted Christian thinkers, common meals and worship, and other activities that encourage collegiality among faculty members as they explore together their common aims as Christian educators at Baylor.
Among a multitude of goals, Communio aims at three in particular. The retreat first aims to acquaint faculty with a theological understanding of vocation/calling. Secondly, it aims to explore the implications of Christian calling for academic life in both its teaching and scholarly dimensions. Lastly, Communio aims to enhance faculty readiness to help mentor students in discerning and responding to their own Christian vocation.
Communio is first and foremost a retreat—an extended time for prayer, reflection, and renewal. Each day begins and ends with common prayer. Through scripture, sacred music, and silence we hope to orient (and often re-orient) the pattern of our daily living towards becoming more attuned to God's calling on our lives. Many who have attended these retreats have found these times of prayer as the most important offering of the week.
Each morning and evening, we also will meet for a time of presentation and discussion led by one of our retreat speakers. Here we are able to learn and reflect together about matters of vocation, the relationship between faith and the academy, and the university's engagement with the church and culture.
Apart from these times, most of the day is left for exploring the trails around Laity Lodge, swimming, fishing, reading, painting, sculpting, or simply resting. Meals are unhurried to allow plenty of time for conversation with colleagues.Read More »